Did I abandon
my body
when she grew tired
of nurturing all but herself?
Bitterness filling
a now fruitless womb.
How stale the taste of age
on the tongue of one who
longs for new.
Letting them go,
no easy task
for forever loving them.
Still I remember
the joy of their years
sharing that part of myself I see
leaving for an
unknown place.
Always bound
to taunt heartstrings
like a harp
the music slow and mournful
with a painful beauty of leaving
it all behind.
Still the echoes
fill the years-
Loving was not always easy
the emptiness it leaves-
.
In a darkened room
filled with shadows,
I gather memories,
stored
safe in the deepest marrow
That second stanza really striking, gut-wrenching poem brilliantly composed
ReplyDeleteloving can def leave an emptiness at times...
ReplyDeletegathering memories in your marrow...what an arresting image
works for a great close though
I love your opening...just drew me right in. Felt this one deep, Lisa. Great to see you!
ReplyDeleteYes, the opening and the ending too! And the middle, and... :)
ReplyDeleteAging, watching children leave, living without for the first time, all leave lingering pains. May the memories heal
ReplyDeleteI specially love the ending ~ I believe in nurturing the body & mind, specially now that I am growing older ~ I know those shadows, they linger long & full of mourning ~ Love your piece Lisa ~
ReplyDeleteGrace
Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHow we do love our children forever and hard it is to let go. But we have done our job well and should take joy in that.
Anna :o]
The parting... any parting... that's what aging is.. the knowledge that we gradually part with everything piece by piece... such a powerful poem.
ReplyDeleteYour poem seems to collapse time so that the birthing and the letting them go grown are equal--a new idea for me. But I have learned from early hysterectomy NOT to ever abandon the body, never ever, not as long as alive on mother earth. It does more than we think.
ReplyDeleteVery nice work here speaking of both a true melancholy and consolation too... I especially liked:
ReplyDelete"How stale the taste of age
on the tongue of one who
longs for new." With Best Wishes Scott www.scotthastie.com
It is hard to watch and let a child go...you have stated its pain so well. But there is also a new life for a mother...One she can fill with her own dreams.
ReplyDeletethis is really tender and beautiful.. my fav lines were: Loving was not always easy; Bitterness filling
ReplyDeletea now fruitless womb.;
and the taunting of heart strings.
i like the title...their stay with the parents is a brief sojourn making life worth living...love
ReplyDeletethe tender note all through...
Lisa,
ReplyDeleteIt might well be my situation in your words..I felt a sadness too while understanding the poem...Empty nest is never an easy stage in life:)
Eileen
Thank you all for your comments. I always love hearing from you.
ReplyDelete